U.S. Women's Update - Feb. 16

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 16, 2010) – The current U.S. Women's National Team Weekly update released on Feb. 16 includes briefs on U.S. players competing overseas, player information, Volley-Tweets, trivia questions and much more.

For the complete PDF version including a complete list of players training at the team’s facility at American Sports Centers in Anaheim, the U.S. international transfer list, 2009 season stats and other fan interaction sections, click here.

TRIVIA QUESTIONS: 1. To what country has USA Volleyball processed the most female international transfers to compete in foreign leagues in 2009-2010? 2. Which player led the U.S. in hitting efficiency on the recent trip to China (two scrimmages and one exhibition)? 3. Which player led the U.S. in points and kills on the recent trip to China (two scrimmages and one exhibition)? Answers can be found on page four in the full PDF version (click here) of the current U.S. Women’s National Team Weekly update.

INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS: With the Puerto Rico Super League starting on Feb. 12, several U.S. Women’s National Team players and other Americans have completed international transfer paperwork to compete in the league. Cassie Busse (Prior Lake, Minn.) and Jennifer Joines Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) are competing for Llaneras Toa Baja, the reigning Puerto Rico Super League champions. Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.) and Airial Salvo (Farmington, Utah), both products of University of Washington, are playing for Lancheras de Catano. Katie Kimmich (Lakeside, Calif.) is competing for Mets de Guaynabo. Katie Olsovsky (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) is playing for Gigantes de Carolina along with fellow American Jessica Jones. Other American players who have recently completed their international transfer paperwork to play in Puerto Rico include Greichaly Cepero with Nuevas Indias de Mayaguez, Erica Lott with Valencianas de Juncos and Christal Morrison with Vaqueras de Bayamon. All told, 19 Americans are playing in Puerto Rico including Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.), who completed her paperwork a few weeks ago. Other recent international transfers processed by USA Volleyball include Justine Burkhardt with Austria’s UVF Hagebau Schuberth Melk and Roberta Holehouse with Spain’s CVRH Las Palmas. USA Volleyball has processed female player international transfers to 26 foreign countries in the 2009-2010 professional club season. For a full listing of the 146 international transfer, visit the full PDF version of the U.S. Women’s National Team Weekly Update.

MUSIC TO COLLYMORE’S EARS: Jane Collymore (Seattle) has built up a solid resume on the volleyball court, including time spent with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team since May 2005. However, her resume has been bridging into more areas than just on the volleyball court in recent years. Collymore is a three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American while playing at the University of Florida. As a senior in 2005, she was named AVCA All-America First Team and repeated her junior accomplishment of being named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year. By the time she ended her career with the Gators, she had over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs and ranked among the top 10 in 51 different statistical categories in Florida’s records book. After her collegiate career, Collymore donned the red, white and blue of Team USA and played in three tournaments in 2006 including the Pan American Cup, FIVB World Grand Prix and TV Azteca Cup in Mexico. She totaled 10 points versus Brazil during the Pan American Cup, then added nine points in a second meeting against Brazil during the 2006 FIVB World Grand Prix. Collymore was the prime American offensive threat at the TV Azteca Cup, where she was the second leading scorer among all players in the tournament with 77 points, including double-figure scoring in all five matches and a 23-point effort against Peru. Collymore’s life made a dramatic shift in 2007 when she took a hiatus from the sport of volleyball and left the U.S. Women’s National Team. Thereafter, she began pursuing a professional music career, along with time spent in front of the camera modeling for print ads and television commercials. For the complete feature, click here.

UPDATE TO SECOND TRAINING SESSION ROSTER: A total of 17 players are currently training with the U.S. Women’s National Team during its second winter training block that ends April 9. The team training sessions, held at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim, Calif., are open to the public. Training times are generally Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while Fridays often vary on times. Middle blockers include Tracy Stalls (Denver, Colo.), Christa Harmotto (Aliquippa, Pa.), Alexis Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Cheryl Weaver (Washington, D.C.), Mekana Barnes (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Brittnee Cooper (Houston). Outside hitters/opposite include Heather Hughes (Fallbrook, Calif.), Angie Pressey (Lake Mary, Fla.), Katie Wilkins Kimmich (Lakeside, Calif.), Brittany Moore (Orange, Calif.) and Jill Collymore (Bellevue, Wash.). The setters training include Bryn Kehoe (North Bend, Ohio) and Nicole Vargas (Seal Beach, Calif.). The libero position has Jessica Fine (Tarzana, Calif.) and Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii) training with the U.S. Women’s National Team. Further, Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.), and Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Mich.) have joined the training session. Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.), Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) and Ellen Herman (Toledo, Ohio), who were part of the U.S. trip to China at the beginning of February, have return to Penn State and Ohio University to continue their educations. Some players could leave for pro opportunities or other circumstances, while the training group could expand at the end February following the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts set for Feb. 19-21 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

NATIONAL TEAM OPEN TRYOUTS ROSTER: USA Volleyball will hold its largest-ever single tryout for the U.S. Women’s National Team held Feb. 19-21 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Open Tryout has 46 middle blockers, 42 outside hitters, 39 liberos, 31 setters and 19 opposites for a total of 177 athletes participating. A total of 81 colleges are represented among the tryout participants. Hugh McCutcheon, the U.S. Women’s National Team head coach, will lead the evaluation process for the tryout. Karch Kiraly (U.S. Women’s National Team) and Jamie Morrison (U.S. Women’s National Team) will also take part in the player evaluations. As part of the tryout, athletes will compete for spots on the U.S. Women’s Volleyball National Team program and the U.S. Women’s Senior A2 teams. The U.S. Women’s National Team program is open to athletes who have concluded their college eligibility and who wish to train full-time. This program could begin as early as February 2010, or when an athlete’s scholastic or professional club season has concluded. Athletes who will have remaining collegiate eligibility may still participate in the program with participation beginning May 2010 or when their scholastic calendar ends. Athletes in college with collegiate eligibility remaining for the 2010 season and not selected to the USA Women’s National Team may be invited to participate in the USA Senior A2 Team. This program is tentatively scheduled to take place in Phoenix from May 24 through June 2. A projected 24 athletes will be invited to participate in the program, which will include training and competition in the 2010 USA Adult Open Championships in the Open Division from May 29-June 1. USA Volleyball considers the event as the National Championship for the sport of volleyball in the United States. The U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryout is the only path for a collegiate volleyball player with remaining eligibility to access the U.S. National Team and have an opportunity to be named to the 2010 FIVB World Championship to be played Oct. 29-Nov. 14. For the complete press release, click here.

METCALF PROVIDE OFFENSE IN BRAZIL: Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa), a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Games roster, is in Brazil playing for Usiminas/Minas of the Brazilian Superliga. Metcalf chalked up 25 points in leading her squad to a 26-24, 25-20, 18-25, 25-17 victory over third-place Unilever on Feb. 11. She managed 23 kills on 53 swings to go with a block and kill in the victory. Now 2-0 in the second phase and 9-5 overall in the Brazilian Superliga, Usiminas plays Pauta on Feb. 17 and Cativa on Feb. 19 in its next league matches.

BERG PUSHING ITALIAN TEAM TO TOP: Lindsey Berg (Honolulu), a setter on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team which won the silver medal in Beijing, is playing for MC-Carnaghi Villa Cortese of the Italian Serie A professional league this winter. Berg helped Villa Cortese to a 25-15, 25-20, 20-25, 25-23 victory over Asystel Volley Novara on Feb. 14. With Berg setting, Villa Cortese converted 39 percent of its attacks into kills with a .256 hitting efficiency. Villa Cortese continues to rank second in the Serie A standings with a 12-4 record and 35 points. It faces fifth-place Chateau d’Ax Urbino Volley on Feb. 21 in the next regular season match. To follow Berg throughout the season, check out her blog at lindseyberg.blogspot.com.

BOWN COMPETING FOR JESI: Heather Bown (Yorba Linda,Calif.), a three-time Olympian with the U.S. Women’s National Team, is competing for Monte Schiavo Banca Marche Jesi in the Italian Serie A professional league. Jesi dropped a 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 25-21 match to 11th-place RebecchiLupa Piancenza on Feb. 14. Bown contributed 10 kills on 18 swings with just two errors to go with an ace for 11 points in the loss. She held a .444 hitting efficiency in the contest. Jesi, now 10-6 on the season and in fourth place with 30 points, plays eighth-place Asystel Volley Novara on Feb. 21 in its next match.

TOM, ASYSTEL VOLLEY NOVARA: Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah), a three-time Olympian and member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Games silver medal roster, is competing for Asystel Volley Novara in the Italian Serie A professional league this winter. In a four-set loss to MC-Carnaghi Villa Cortese on Feb. 14, Tom scored a team-high 20 points with 16 kills on 39 attempts and just four errors in hitting .308 for the match. Novara, currently 8-8 on the season and in eighth place in the Serie A standings, plays fourth-place Monte Schiavo Banca Marche Jesi on Feb. 21 in its next Serie A match. Before its return to the Serie A action, Novara concludes its home-and-home CEV Indesit Champions League Playoff 12 round match with Poland’s Enion Energia Dabrowa Gornicza on Feb. 16. Novara won the first match in five sets.

BARBOZA WITH TORAY IN JAPAN: Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.), an outside hitter with the U.S. Women’s National Team and alternate on both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games rosters, is playing in her first professional volleyball season in Japan V-League with Toray. Barboza helped Toray to consecutive five-set victories this past weekend. She scored 10 kills on 19 swings to go with a block for 11 points in a 19-25, 18-25, 25-13, 25-23, 15-12 come-from-behind victory over second-place Hisamitsu on Feb. 13. Barboza charted 12 kills on 25 attempts along with two aces for 14 points in a 22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-20, 15-11 victory over third-place Denso on Feb. 14. For the weekend, she tallied 22 kills on 44 swings with just four errors for a .409 hitting efficiency. Toray, now 12-6 on the season and in third place, travels to Ehime on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21 for matches against sixth-place NEC and fifth-place Okayama.

NNAMANI, GLASS PACING PROSTEJOV IN CZECH REPUBLIC: Ogonna Nnamani (Bloomington, Ill.) and Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.) continue to lead their Czech Republic professional team Prostejov. The squad concluded its regular season with a 20-0 record. During the regular season, Nnamani converted 49 percent of her attacks into kills with a .365 hitting efficiency. She added 12 blocks and 13 aces for 189 points. Glass chipped in a similar 49 kill percent with a .369 hitting efficiency. She contributed 13 blocks and nine aces for 104 points in 29 sets. Glass also held a 70 percent positive reception on 123 attempts. In CEV Indesit Champions League Playoff 12 round action, Prostejov lost a tough four-set match to Italy’s Scavolini Pesaro 30-28, 19-25, 25-22, 26-24 on Feb. 11. Nnamani scored a team-high 22 points in the loss as she piled up 16 kills on 36 attacks, five blocks and an ace from her opposite position. Glass added 11 points via 10 kills on 29 attempts and one block. She was credited with a 76 positive percent on 41 service receptions. Prestojov has the home-and-home rematch with Pesaro on Feb. 18.

RICHARDS, SYKORA HELPING OMICHKA TO RUSSIAN FOREFRONT: Kristin Richards (Orem, Utah), an outside hitter and 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate, and three-time U.S. Olympian Stacy Sykora (Burleson, Texas) are playing in the Russia Super League with Omichka in Omsk. Omichka won its second match in a row with a 25-17, 25-18, 25-21 victory over University-Technolog of Belgorod on Feb. 15. Richards totaled 15 points with 11 kills on 22 attempts, three blocks and an ace. Sykora passed at a 82 percent perfect mark and had 16 digs. The victory maintains Omichka’s second-place spot in the Russian Super League standings with a 12-4 record and 28 points. Omichka faces fifth-place Dinamo-Krasnodar in its next match on Feb. 21.

FAWCETT SCORING IN RUSSIA: Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio), a U.S. Women’s National Team player, continues to pay dividends for Dinamo-Yantar after joining the team in mid-season. Fawcett scored a team-high 13 points with 10 kills on 28 swings, two aces and a block against Avtodor-Metar on Feb. 14, but it was not enough in a 25-19, 25-22, 25-17 loss. Dinamo-Yantar, now 7-9 on the season, looks to rebound on Feb. 20 against Uralochka-NTMK in a battle of teams tied for seventh place in the Russian Super League standings.

LARSON PUSHING DINAMO KAZAN TO NEW HEIGHTS: Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) is playing in her first professional season of her career in the Russia Superliga with Dinamo Kazan. Her squad lost a 25-14, 21-25, 25-13, 25-20 match to fifth-place Dinamo Krasnodar on Feb. 14. Dinamo Kazan is now 8-8 on the season with 24 points for sixth-place in the league standings. It challenges league-leader and undefeated Dinamo Moscow on Feb. 21 in the 17th round of the league’s regular season.

JOINES TAMAS, BUSSE WITH TOA BAJA: Jen Joines Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) and Cassie Busse (Prior Lake, Minn.), both members of the U.S. Women’s National Team, are playing for 2009 Puerto Rico League champion Toa Baja in 2010. In its first match of the season, Toa Baja lost to Catano 18-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-20 on Feb. 12. Busse collected 14 points with 10 kills, three blocks and an ace. Joines Tamas added 10 points with eight kills and two aces. The Llaneras rebounded to defeat Ponce 25-17, 25-23, 19-25, 25-15 on Feb. 14. Joines Tamas produced eight points, while Busse chipped in six points. Canadian Stacy Gordon, who plays for Toa Baja and was a co-AVCA National Player of the Year in 2004 playing at Ohio State, had a match-high 26 points with 19 digs.

THOMPSON, SALVO WITH CATANO: Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.), a setter with the U.S. Women’s National Team, and Airial Salvo (Farmington, Utah) are playing for Catano de Lancheras of the Puerto Rico Superliga. In the league’s season-opening match, Thompson helped Catano to a 18-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-20 victory over defending league champion Toa Baja on Feb. 12. She scored two aces, nine assists and 20 digs in running the Lancheras offense in its first-ever match. Catano secured its second victory in as many matches as it defeated Caguas 25-22, 25-21, 25-22 on Feb. 15. Thompson had five assists and a block in driving the offense to victory. Salvo totaled 12 kills and eight digs in the victory.

SPICER WITH PONCE: Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.), a setter with the U.S. Women’s National Team, is competing for Ponce of the Puerto Rico Superliga in 2010. She recorded 12 assists, three blocks and eight digs in a three-set loss to Bayamon on Feb. 13 to open the league season. Spicer tallied seven points with four kills, two blocks and an ace in a four-set loss to Toa Baja on Feb. 14. She added 10 assists and 14 digs in the match in a near triple-double performance.

WILKINS WITH GUAYNABO: Katie Wilkins (Lakeside, Calif.), an outside hitter with the U.S. Women’s National Team, is competing for the Mets of Guaynabo in the Puerto Rico Superliga. She tallied a team-high 14 points in a four-set loss to Caguas on Feb. 13. Guaynabo rebounded to edge Corozal in a five-set victory on Feb. 14.

OTHER AMERICAN HIGHLIGHTS IN PUERTO RICO: Christal Morrison pocketed a match-high 15 points in a three-set Bayamon victory over Ponce on Feb. 13. Bayamon teammate Erin Moore added 13 points. Playing in her professional debut, Sarah Ammerman scored a team-high 12 points for Ponce in the match against Bayamon…Jessica Jones tallied 24 points for Carolina, but it was not enough as her team lost in five sets to Mayaguez on Feb. 13. Katie Olsovsky, who has played for the U.S. Women’s National Team in the past, tallied 10 points in the match for Carolina…Erin Moore totaled 21 points and Christal Morrison added 15 in Bayamon’s five-set win over Juncos on Feb. 14. On the opposite side of the net, Kelly Wing scored 20 points for Juncos and Erica Lott tallied 10 points…Kristee Porter produced 13 points and Kaitlin Sather hammered down 11 points as her Corozal team swept Mayaguez…Jessica Jones and Katie Olsovsky had matching team-high 19 points in leading Carolina to a four-set victory over Juncos on Feb. 14. Juncos was led by Kelly Wing’s match-high 23 points and Erica Lott’s 19 points…Sarah Ammerman tallied 17 points and 12 digs in Ponce’s four-set loss to defending champion Toa Baja on Feb. 14.

COLLEGE COACH DAY IN ANAHEIM: The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team coaching staff has initiated a new program called Coaching Outreach Program (COP) to promote the exchange of coaching ideas between the U.S. Women’s National Team and college community. The U.S. Women’s National Team coaching staff of head coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand), assistant coach Karch Kiraly (San Clemente, Calif.) and assistant coach/technical coordinator Jamie Morrison (Dana Point, Calif.) developed the foundation of the COP program last summer with several goals in mind. The intentions of the program are three-fold: 1. Develop professionally as a group; 2. Build bridges and improve lines of communication between the U.S. National Team staff and the college coaching community; and 3. Catalyze discussion about best practices in teaching and learning. After the first session held Feb. 9-10 attracted 20 coaches, the second session that started on Feb. 15 at the USA National Team Center located in the American Sports Centers in Anaheim brought in an additional 10 college coaches. For more information on the COP program, click here.